Configuring Snowflake with SAP Business Objects Information Design Tool (IDT)

Information Design Tool (IDT) is a SAP Business Objects design tool that extracts the data from different data sources using an OLAP and Relational connection to create Universes.

To Create the Snowflake connection in IDT:

Snowflake connectivity is supported on Windows and Linux platforms

Steps for configuring JDBC:

1. Download the JDBC driver from official snowflake repository

2. In order for the Snowflake JDBC driver to work, create a snowflake folder in the <Install Dir>\SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise XI 4.0\dataAccess\connectionServer\jdbc\drivers folder, then copy the snowflake jar in this snowflake folder you just created. This need to be added in both BOE server and client where you use IDT.

3. Restart BOE server

4. Launch IDT and create the new Relational Connection selecting Snowflake -> JDBC Drivers as the middleware.

5. Fill the connection details server, warehouse, database and user credentials . And Test Connection

6. On TestConnection success publish this connection to the Repository to make it available for use

7. The next step is to create a Data Foundation Layer on this secure connection. Select the .cns connection right click and create the Data foundation. It will show list of all available schemas in the database. You can add Tables and Joins from Schema to Data Foundation layer

8. Next is to create a Business Layer on the Data Foundation. Click the Save All icon at the top of the screen. Then, right-click on Data foundation .dfx → New Business Layer. Enter Resource Name → (Generating Business Layer for Data Foundation) Finish. It will add Business Layer .blx under the Local Project.

9. Once you define Business Layer, click Save All icon and publish it to repository

10. Using this universe WebI documents can be created

Steps for configuring ODBC:

1. Download the ODBC driver from official snowflake repository

2. Install the snowflake ODBC driver

3. Create the DSN in server and client machine selecting SnowflakeDSIIDriver. DSN name should be same in BOE server and client where IDT is installed.

4. Launch IDT and create the new Relational Connection selecting Snowflake -> ODBC Drivers as the middleware.

5. Select the DSN and fill the user credential details. And Test Connection

6. On TestConnection success publish this connection to the Repository to make it available for use

7 to 10 steps are same as for JDBC and ODBC